Refrigerating apparatus



April 14, 1931. H, B, HULL 1,800,255

REFR IGERA'T'TNG APPARATUS Filed Dec. 50. 1927 Patented Apr. 14, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRY IB. HULL, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T FRIGID- .AIRE CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE REFRIGEBATING APPARATUS Application led December 30, 1927. Serial No. 243,700.

The present invention relates to improvements in refrigerators and more particularly to the type of refrigerator provided'with a refrigerated element connected with refrigerant circulating apparatus located in or near the cabinet in which the element 1s mounted.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide means for preventing the collecting 1o of condensed moisture in the machine compartment of the apparatus. One method of accomplishing this object is to provide means for conducting the moisture away as rapidly as it is formed.

vide a shield for piping exposed in the machine compartment on which moisture is liable to collect and which is adapted to convey the condensed moisture away from themachine compartment.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein a preferred form of, the present invention is clearly shown.

The figure in the drawing represents a horizontal cross section of a refrigerator having a refrigerating apparatus mounted therein embodying my invention. y

The invention is particularly applicable to the type of refrigerator in which the machine compartment is laced above the freezing compartment. uch a refrigerator is described in the copending application of Harry B. Hull, Serial No. 147,862, filed November 12, 1926.

The drawing illustrates the invention applied to such a refrigerator of the household type. Referring in detail to the drawing, the refrigerator comprises a cabinet having a lower or freezing compartment 2O and an upper or machine compartment 21. The

lower compartment is provided with heat insulated walls 22 and an impervious lining 23.

A wall 24 separates the two compartments and also serves to support the machinery hereinafter described. `The same wall also serves to carry the refrigerating element which in 50 the type chosen for illustrating the present A further object of the invention is to prov invention comprises a refrigerating coil 25 arranged to provide an enclosure for holding a plurality of trays 26 containing material to be frozen. An expansion valve or the like 27 serves to regulate the flow of refrigerant in the coil 25 in the well-known manner. The refrigerant is supplied to the expansion valve 27 by means of pipe 28 and is returned to the compressor by means of pipe 29.

The refrigerating element is enclosed by a sheet metal casing 30 supported by the top wall 24 as by screws 31-` Openings 32 are provided in the side walls of the metal casing 30 to permit circulation of air between the freezing 'compartment and the element. An opening 33 is provided in the bottom wall of the casing 30 for the same purpose and this opening is covered with a drip cover 34 and shield 35 spaced away from said opening and adapted to prevent water resulting from condensation in the casing 30 from dripping into the storage compartment below. This water is led to a drain by pipe 36.

The refrigerating elementl is operated by a compressor 37 driven by a motor 38 through belt 39. The refrigerant which may be sulphur dioxide is forced by the pump through i the refrigerating coils 40 in the freezing compartment and is returned to the compressor at point 41 through pipe 29, a suitable condenser 42 4being provided for cooling and condensing the heated gas.

The return line 29 comprises the suction portion of the refrigerator and is the coldest portion of the system outside of the freezing compartment. It is on this pipe that moisture condensers most readily and unless means are provided for conducting the same away it will collect in the machine compartment and cause annoyance. It may for eX- ample, leak through the opening in the wall 24 through which the pipe 29 passes and seep into the heat insulating material 43 contained in the wall causing the same to lose its insulating properties in time and become foul.

In order to obviate this diiculty in accordance with the present invention means are provided for preventing the condensed Water from accumulating within the comp artment. This is accomplished by disposing a flexible, preferably heat insulating tube over the suction pipe 29 in such a manner that a loose fit is secured and sufficient room left between the tube and the suction pipe to permit moisture condensing on the pipe to run o into the freezing compartment whence it is conducted away to a drain.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention as applied to a refrigerator of the kind described the suction pipe 29 is surrounded by a loosely fitting tube 44 preferably made of a material having less heat conducting qualities than the suction pipe, such as rubber.

The tube 44 is attached at its upper extremity to the suction pipe 29 as by a constricted portion 45 or by a clamp 46 or by both,l or other means. The tube 44 passes through the wall 24 which separates the machine compartment from the freezing chamber and terminates shortly therebelow. The tube 44 should make a snug fit in passing through lthe separatory wall so as to prevent escape of cold air `at this point, but it should not make too. snug a, fit so as to hug the pipe 29 and interfere with the removal of condensed water.

The water which drips down into the drip pan 34 from which it is conducted to a drain pipe 36.

It is of course obvious that the invention is applicable to refrigerators in which the machine compartment and freezing compartment are arranged differently from the apparatus illustrated herein. Likewise the refrigerant circulating'means, which may be of any type, need not necessarily be enclosed in any compartment whatsoever, one of the main objects being to prevent the accumulation of condensed moisture at any point near or adjacent the place where the refrigerant circulating apparatus is located.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutesv a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a refrigerating apparatus comprising a machine for circulating refrigerant to a refrigerating element and having connecting piping extending between said machine and said'element, means for conducting moisture condensed on said piping away from said machine, said means comprising a heat insulating tube concentrically spaced from said piping and adapted to lead said moisture away from said machine, said tube being made of rubber.

2. Refrigerating apparatus adapted to be applied to a refrigerator and comprising a base, a compressor, motor and condenser mounted upon the base, a refrigerating element suspended from said base, piping between said compressor, condenser and re condenses in pipe 29 frigerating element forming a refrigerating circuit, means on said piping for preventing moisture condensed thereon from collecting on said base.

3. Refrigerating apparatus adapted to be applied to a refrigerator and comprising a base, a compressor, motorl and condenser mounted upon the base, a refrigerating element suspended from said base within lsaid refrigerator, piping between said compressor, condenser and refrigerating element forming a refrigerating circuit, a drain passage extending through said base from the machine compartment of said refrigerator to the freezing compartment thereof, and a tube concentrically spaced from and surrounding said piping and passing through said passage and adapted to conduct water condensed on said piping to said freezing compartment.

4. Refrigerating apparatus adapted to be applied to a refrigerator and comprising a base, a compressor, motor and condenser mounted upon the base, a refrigerating element suspended from said base within said refrigerator, piping between said compressor, condenserl and refrigerating coil forming a refrigerating circuit, a passage extending through said base from the machine compartment of said refrigerator to the freezing compartment thereof, and a rubber tube attached to the suction end of the compressor and'extending concentric with and spaced from the suction piping and passing through said passage into said freezing compartment and adapted to conduct water condensed on said piping to a drain within said freezing compartment.

5. In a refrigerating apparatus, an evaporator, a drip pan therebelow, refrigerant circulating means, a refrigerant suction line connecting said evaporator and circulating means, and means surrounding the suction line for conveying moisture from said suc'- tion line to said'drip pan.

6. In a refrigerating apparatus, a base, refrigerant circulating means carried by the base, an evaporator, a refrigerantv suction line connecting said evaporator and'circulating means, a drip pan mountedvbelow said evaporator, and means surrounding the sucsuction line to said drip pan.

7L In a refrigerating apparatus, an evaporator2 a drip pan therebelow, refrigerant circulatlng means, a refrigerant suction line connecting said evaporator and circulating means, said suction line having a portion extending upwardly from the evaporator, and means surrounding said upwardly extending portion of said suction line for conveying moisture therefrom to said drip pan.

8. In a refrigerating apparatus, an evaporator, a drip pan therebelow, refrigerant circulating means, a refrigerant suction line connecting saidl evaporator and circulating A tion line for conveying molsture from said means, said suction line. having a portion extending upwardly from the evaporator, and insulating means surrounding said upwardly extending portion of said suction lme for conveying moisture therefrom to said drip pan.

9. In a refrigerating apparatus, an evaporator, a drip pan therebelow, refrigerant circulating means, a refrigerant suction line connecting said evaporator and circulating means, sald-suction line having a portion extending upwardly from the evaporator, and an insulating tube surrounding said upwardly extending portion of said suction line for conveying moisture therefrom to said drip 10. In a rcfrigeratin apparatus, an evaporator, a drip pan there low, refrigerant circulating means, a refrigerant suction line connecting said evaporator and circulating means, said suction l1n'e having a portion extending upwardly from the evaporator, and a fiexible rubber tube surrounding said upwardly extending portion of said suction line for conveying moisture therefrom to said drip pan.

11. In a refrigerating apparatus, an evaporator, a drip pan therebelow, refrigerant circulating means, a refrigerant suction line 3o connecting said evaporator and circulating means, said suction 11ne having a portion extending upwardly from the evaporator, and a tube surrounding said u wardly extending portion of said suction line for conveying moisture therefrom to said drip pan.

12. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a cabinet, refrigerant c1rcu1ating means, an

evaporator, a drip pan therebelow, a refrigerant suction line connecting said evaporator and circulating means, said suction line extending through an opening in a wall of said refrigerator cabinet, a tube disposed within said opening and surrounding said suction line for conveying moisture from the suction line to said drip pan.

13. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a cabinet, refrigerant circulating means, an evaporator, a refrigerant suction line connecting said evaporator and circulating means, said suction line extending through an openin in a wall of said refrigerator ca net, a tu disposed within said opening and surrounding said suction line for conve 'ng moisture therefrom.

n testimony whereof I hereto aix my signature.

HARRY B. HULL. 

